It's game day in Fort Wayne - Mad Ants v. Maine Red Claws - but what's really important is the sunny 60 degrees that is going on outside. I like to think of myself as fairly hardy when it comes to winter weather, but Fort Wayne winters are particularly tortuous. Needless to say, today's sunshine is a welcome respite.
So, with the sun beaming through my office window, I want to talk about a great warm weather wine - Vinho Verde. Although its name literally means "green wine", it can actually be a red or a white wine, with whites made from Albario, Loureiro or Trajadura grapes being the best representatives of the class. Rather than referencing the color of the wine, "green" refers to the relatively young age at which these wines are made to drink - typically within the first year after bottling. As a result of their youthfulness, vinho verde wines have a very light and fresh taste that works well as an aperitif on a summer day (or on a 60 degree day that feels like summer because it's been 5 months since you've seen the sun).
In addition to being a great tasting wine, it doesn't hurt that vinho verdes are quite inexpensive, with most bottles falling in the $8-12 range. My favorite bottle is from Broadbent, a widely available bottle that retails for around $11. The highly level of acidity and the bright citrus flavors of this wine are perfect for grilled lime chicken and fresh summer vegetables, like radishes and cucumbers. Combine this wine with that meal, add a sunny day and some friends on the patio and you've got a great thing going on.
Not my usual detail for a blog, but vinho verde's simple pleasures aren't cut out for a long-winded explanation. Simply wait for the sunshine, pop a cork (or twist a screw) and enjoy. In the meantime, I'm going to go sit in the sun for a few minutes before I head over to get ready for tonight's game.
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Thanks Jeff ... have not tried any of those varietals before. How does this compare to a more mainstream grape like pinot g. or sauvignon? Assuming this is a low- or no-oak white, not like that buttery kendalljackson chard crap my mom likes! We'll be at the game Sunday-see you then
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Mark, and good seeing you at the game the other day, albeit briefly. This is very much like pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc, and far from the Carol-friendly California chardonnay (read my new post for more on chardonnay). Vinho verdes are all very bright and refreshing, and most of them even have a tiny bit of carbonation that makes it feel almost like sparkling water in your mouth. Great stuff. I'll bring a bottle to the lake this summer.
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